“Dearest,
“Accidentally I have become acquainted with your intended departure from Columbia, to dare the dangers of the waters, to risk a thousand perils, and, more than all, to be separated by a long and dreary boundary from a heart you have made so devotedly your own. Every attempt I have made to communicate with you, has been rendered of no avail. I believe you all I would have you be; but I am fearful your impetuous nature will hurry you into continual dangers, and, as I cannot myself watch over your safety, I would have near you some one on whose zeal, fidelity, and care I can place the utmost confidence. Zabra, whom you will readily recognise as a child of my father, has been brought up as my page; his Indian mother died in his infancy, but his education has not been neglected. You will find him both useful and entertaining, and may rely on his perfect devotion. Let him remain about you—let him be my representative—and let him serve to keep in your remembrance one whose soul clings to your footsteps,—who has no ambition but in possessing your exclusive affections, and knows no pride but that which is created by thinking herself, your
Eureka.”
The letter was read many times, and with an increasing pleasure at each re-perusal; and the bearer was received with such an abundance of welcomes as must have convinced him his servitude would be very light. But while his future master kept scanning his dusky physiognomy, as if comparing his features with the brilliant beauty of her who had so long been the glory of his existence, the page retained the same unmoved demeanour which he had from the first evinced.
During these proceedings the anchor had been weighed, the sails trimmed, and, amid the firing of cannon from the houses on each bank, and the deafening shouts of the spectators, the Albatross majestically sailed down the river, and having reached the ocean, soon lost sight of the city of Columbus, its noble quays, its stately palaces, its generous merchant, and its grateful citizens.
NOTES.
[(1.)] “The graceful Swan” and “rapid Fish” are probably intended to be the names of pleasure boats, derived from the creatures they were built to resemble; and the “gigantic Hippopotamus” and “slow Tortoise” must be meant for the larger kind of barges and heavy coasting vessels used in traffic.
[(2.)] “Up wi’ her cleaver, out wi’ her wings, and good bye to Old Columbia.” The anchor and sails of the vessel are no doubt here alluded to; and the names Columbus and Columbia which are met with throughout these pages, evidently distinguish the metropolis from the empire.